Think tank explains how same-sex marriage won in Wash.

Same-sex marriage advocates were successful in persuading many Washington state voters this election season by emphasizing the desire of same-sex couples to commit to each other. That’s according to a poll conducted by the Third Way think tank immediately following the Nov. 6 general election.

The think tank concluded that campaigns for same-sex marriage were more effective when they personalized couples and their commitments to each other rather than talking about marriage as a right that same-sex couples should have.

When it came to persuasive rhetoric, “commitment beat rights by 8 (percentage) points,” according to a Third Way news release. Specifically, “85 percent of those who thought gay couples married for commitment voted in favor of allowing them to do so (while) 74 percent of those who said gay couples marry for rights voted against.”

Other interesting takeaways include:

o Sixty-six percent of moderates and 59 percent of independents voted in favor of same-sex marriage in Washington state.

o Seventy-nine percent of moderate and conservative Democrats voted in favor of same-sex marriage, while 38 percent of moderate and liberal Republicans voted for same-sex marriage in Washington state.

o Since 2009, support for same-sex marriage increased between 22 and 27 percentage points among moderates; independents; moderate and conservative Democrats; and moderate and liberal Republicans.

o One in five Washingtonians who voted for same-sex marriage had previously opposed same-sex marriage within the past three years.

You can read the full report here.

Stevie Mathieu: 360-735-4523 or stevie.mathieu@columbian.com or www.facebook.com/reportermathieu or www.twitter.com/col_politics